Navigation

Manatee Lagoon

For years, manatees have wallowed in the warm outflow water from the FP&L power plant on the north end of West Palm Beach. Dozens of the oh-how-cute sea cows can pack the lagoon during cold snaps. But security clampdowns since 9/11 kept them off-limits to visitors.

That's changed: on Feb. 6, 2016, "Manatee Lagoon" opened to the public, a free manatee-watching attraction complete with its own boardwalk, a photo-op manatee statue, an "Eco-Discovery Center," and a gift shop. FP&L spent nearly $5 million building it.

Luckily for Snowbirds, the best chance of seeing your fill of manatees is during the peak Florida winter travel season.